A LECHLADE grandfather, volunteer and all-round “giver” has died at the age of 82.

Mike Cawsey, a well-known, "warm" and "caring" member of the community passed away on April 23 after suffering from cancer.

Friends and family members attended a service of thanksgiving earlier this month to pay their respects.

Organiser of the annual town flag festival, former mayor, and committed first responder, Mike was popular and well-liked throughout Lechlade.

“He was a giver,” said his daughter Sarah. “He always went above and beyond for everyone.”

Only last year Mike was awarded a Queen’s Commendation and The Order of St John for logging over 25,000 hours and attending 500 incidents during his time as a first responder.

Despite being in his eighties Mike spent many years volunteering as a first responder; attending calls at all hours of the day and night to assist at medical emergencies before an ambulance arrived. He even set the record for his unit in attending four calls in one day.

Steven Hargreaves of St John Ambulance wrote to Mrs Cawsey to offer his condolences. He said Mike's level of commitment to serving the community was a wonderful thing and that his death had effected many people within St John Ambulance and South West Ambulance Service.

The beloved father and grandfather moved to Lechlade with his family in 1966 after working as an engineer in the RAF for more than 37 years.

He enjoyed a wide array of hobbies, including photography, sailing, acting, carpentry and more.

“He was a wonderful man,” said his wife Joan. “He loved his grandchildren to bits. There was always lots of laughter in our house. We were a family of jokers.”

This year the annual Lechlade Flag Festival will be celebrated in memory of Mike Cawsey, who first set up the occasion eight years ago after reading about a similar festival taking place in Yorkshire.

He leaves behind his wife Joan, his three children Martin, Sarah and Jonathan and his five grandchildren.